We're continuing our series of food-lovers' guides by sticking around in the Northwest for the moment. Vancouver, BC! We just visited, and it is a truly remarkable city. It's located on a major seaport, between the Pacific and the incredible mountains of Canada. It has a mild, moist climate, and fresh fruit and vegetables are everywhere, as well as just-caught seafood. It is also very diverse, and Asian cooking of all kind is very popular. Here's your open spot to discuss Vancouver and the best markets, artisans, and shops for food-lovers and cooks in this beautiful, food-loving city.

As with all our other guides, this is just a kickoff to all the truly local suggestions and insight. We've only visited briefly, so here are links to just a few major spots.

Foods You Must Try

Farmers' Markets

Food Halls

• Granville Island Public Market - An entire island off the main downtown of Vancouver, filled with art galleries, a farmers market and many, many specialty food vendors. Don't drive — bike or walk (or take a water taxi) and sit out on the pier to eat a pastry for breakfast.

Best Grocery Stores

• What is the best place to shop for groceries in Vancouver?

Specialty Shops of Note

• Vij's Rangoli - Market for Indian to-go meals and cooking supplies like spices, a companion to the stunning (and famous) Vij's restaurant next door.

Independent Food Artisans

• Les Amis du Fromage - Suggested in this thread• 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters - We brought back a truly incredible pound of coffee from this spot. • Oyama Sausage - Local cheeses and sausages at the Granville Island Public Market• Terra Breads - Also at Granville Island, as well as other locations. Delicious local pastries; apricot with rosemary was a favorite. • Local Vancouverites: Tell us all about your favorite coffee roaster, jam-maker, fish seller, and other local food artisans.

About The Kitchn's Food-Lover's Guides

We focus mainly on home cooking here at The Kitchn, and we know that one huge source of inspiration is travel. We want to give you ideas for things to eat and places to visit even when you're away from your home kitchen. We want to inspire your inner chef and introduce you to the best spots for food-lovers in a dozen or so major cities.

These guides don't deal with restaurants; there are plenty of other resources for that. These are the spots for food-lovers and cooks: the markets, specialty cookshops, and best small-batch artisans. If you're traveling in one of these cities this summer, we hope these guides help you find something inspiring. And if you live here, maybe you'll find a new resource to inspire your daily cooking!

We need your help, too, with these guides. Each city's thread will have at least some recommendations, but of course they will be incomplete. So we need your insider help. Tell us where the best markets, food shops, jam-makers, brewers, butchers, independent groceries, bakery supply stores, and quirky, strange, out-of-the-way food experts are. What are your favorite places to shop, as a cook?